Cheesy Ham & Bowtie Pasta

So simple.

1 box bowtie pasta - cook according to package
diced ham (I used lunchmeat) - as much as you like
3 cups cheese sauce

Ingredients for cheese sauce: (yields 3 cups of sauce)
3 TBS butter or marg
3 TBS flour
onion powder - to taste
pepper - to taste
1/2 tsp. chicken bullion granules (or crush a 1/2 cube) - or to taste
3 cups milk
1 1/2 cup shredded colby jack cheese (or favorite cheese) - can adjust more or less

To prepare cheese sauce:
1. Melt butter in sauce pan.
2. Stir in flour, onion powder, pepper, chicken bullion.
3. Stir in milk.
4. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. (Sauce with be slightly thickened; for thicker sauce use only 2 1/2 cup milk.)
5. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in cheese until melted.

Combine pasta, ham, cheese sauce.
Can also add in peas, corn, diced carrots - any veggie you like.

Fed my family of 8 with leftovers.

Applebee's Blonde Brownies

Made these for the kids...they are really good. Don't think they are nutritious - but brownies aren't very good for us either. :)

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3 /4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter (10 Tbsp.)
2 cups packed golden brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Flour and butter a 9 x13 x 2 pan.
Sift flour into a bowl. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and baking
soda. Set aside. Melt butter. In mixing bowl, place melted butter
and add sugar, mixing well. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
Add flour slowly, blending. Batter will be slightly thick.
Spread in pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and pecans over all.
Bake for 25 − 30 minutes.

Request - Christina - grilled southwest burritos

Christina,

When you visited you brought some southwest burritos or egg rolls...something like that. I remember that they were good.

Can you add the recipe?

Thanks,

Jen

Pineapple-Chicken Curry

My sister-in-law is from Thailand. She made this recipe for me when the baby was born. The whole family loved it, which is saying a lot with 7 of us (of course the baby didn't count).

Ingredients:
1 TBS oil
1 TBS Mae Ploy red curry paste* (use more or less depending on heat preference.)
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced or chopped
1 can (15 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained (save juice)
1 can (20 oz.) Coconut Milk*
1 1/2 TBS sugar (I use about 1 TBS sugar)
1/2 tsp. chicken bullion granules - or crumble 1/2 of a cube, to taste
Pinch salt

In frying pan combine oil and curry paste over medium heat until warm. Add chicken, when slightly cooked add drained pineapple. Cook until meat is done.

Add coconut milk, pineapple juice (1/4 cup or as desired), sugar. Boil 1-2 minutes.

Serve over hot jasmine rice. (regular white rice is ok too; jasmine is just my favorite)

*Curry paste and coconut milk found in Asian isle at grocery store

This recipe is so fast and so good.

Unfortunately my sister-in-law doesn't use recipes so the original directions included a lot of "to taste". However, her food is awesome! I've done my best to estimate what I add. Play around with it to get the taste your family likes best.

Chili

1 lb. ground beef*
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced (or powder)
2 cans (16 oz.) Bush's chili beans
2 cups water
1 tsp. chili powder (or to taste)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper or hot pepper sauce
(I chop a jalapeno pepper)

In large non-stick skillet, cook beef until lightly browned. Add onion, garlic and jalapeno (if desired), saute. Drain excess fat. Mix in remaining ingredients.

Simmer 30-45 minutes.

*I use ground turkey, tastes really good. You can also add diced celery, corn or any other veggie you kids tolerate in chili.

Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe is very quick and easy. I assemble the enchilada in a lasagna fashion (so much faster) - traditional assembly works well too.

Recipe freezes well.

In a pan saute in 1 TBS oil:
3 cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

In a sauce pan combine:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream mushroom soup
1/2 cup chicken broth
additional small can of green chilis, if desired

Additional ingredients:
1 pkg corn tortillas
shredded cheddar/Colby jack cheese (or whatever kind you like)

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 baking dish.

Layer 6-8 corn tortillas - it's ok to break them up
Spread 1/2 soup mix on top
Sprinkle layer of shredded cheese
Layer 6-8 corn tortillas
Spread 1/2 soup mix on top
Sprinkle layer of shredded cheese

Bake 20 minutes till cheese is bubbly.

Spinach Salad

This salad is Oh so good!

I didn't use a recipe so I'll list the ingredients, use as much or little as you want.

Spinach leaves
Iceberg lettuce
Shredded carrots
Broccoli
Green bell pepper
Gala apple, chopped
Pecans, chopped

Kraft Light Asian Toasted Sesame dressing

I combine all salad ingredients. Then add dressing to individual portions - so leftovers don't get soggy.

Lots of fruits would work: manderine oranges, strawberries, dried cranberries, raspberries, etc.
Pretty much throw in any veggie / fruit you like in your salad.